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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2015) – New Caledonian leaders are due in Paris this week for talks with the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, in a bid to resolve the dispute over who is allowed to vote in New Caledonai's independence referendum.

The vote is due by 2018 but there are strong disagreements on the proposed make-up of the roll which is to be debated and approved by the French Senate this month.

The bill only provides automatic registration to indigenous people and those who voted in the 1998 Noumea Accord referendum.

The anti-indepedence side is strongly opposed to these terms, with a top politician, Pierre Frogier, accusing the French government of spreading hate and discord in the territory.

In April, a mass anti-independence rally was held in Noumea, with the loyalists accusing the French government of supporting the pro-independence side.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2015) – A Cook Islands lawyer says it is exciting to see women feeling empowered to speak up through having access to free legal advice.

A women's counselling centre, Punanga Tauturu, has launched a pilot programme which focuses on mediation services and early intervention for female domestic abuse victims.

The former opposition leader, Wilkie Rasmussen, is the first lawyer to have lent his services to the pilot programme.

He says currently there are two hours set aside each week to offer free legal help, but after seeing the demand, he will recommend more sessions be made available to women.

"The atmosphere created by the women that runs the scheme is warm, it makes the women that come forward seeking help feel included into the process. I found it to be exciting in the sense that these women feels a little bit empowered and they can speak and...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2015) – The head of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Dame Meg Taylor says Fiji is taking its role as secretariat host seriously.

Samoa's Prime Minister has said the Forum must look at moving its headquarters away from Suva as his Fijian counterpart is refusing to retake his seat at the table because of differences over Forum membership.

Dame Meg says the fact Fiji's elections supervisor led a Forum team to monitor Bougainville's election is an example of recent good engagement between the two sides.

"The Foreign Minister's always kept the door open to me. I think the work of the Forum has been enhanced of late by the engagement of the government of Fiji, of ministers.

Dame Meg says there's as yet been no formal correspondence via the Secretariat from Mr Bainimarama on his decision not to attend this year's Forum.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2015) – Samoa is celebrating 53 years of independence today

The Prime Minister of Tonga, the Ulu of Tokelau and the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa are among the dignatories attending today's celebrations.

The traditional malae of Tiafau is the main venue for activities starting from the raising of the flag this morning, the official address by his highness the head of state, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, to be followed by a march past and traditional entertainment in the afternoon.

Samoa became independent on the first of January in 1962 after years of colonial rule first by the Germans followed by New Zealand.

Speaking as chair at the 71st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Session in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said there was much at stake for the Pacific Islands.

The theme for the meet is "Balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development: from integration to implementation" but Mr Bainimarama chose to use his opening speech to address two main barriers to sustainable development in the Pacific - climate change and rising sea levels.

He acknowledged Fiji's challenges but referenced our Pacific Island neighbours - the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu - as some of the islands most at threat saying countries in the EU were...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2015) – The American Samoa government plans to strongly oppose a plan to open up an area now reserved for local fishing boats to longlners.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council has approved opening up the 50 mile closure area but the federal government has the final say on the amendment.

The territory's Governor Lolo Moliga says he is more convinced than ever that American Samoa should fight to keep the control of its ocean in its hands.

He plans to present a strong position to the Secretary of Commerce to convince him not to approve the amendment.

American Samoa's statement to the Secretary of Commerce has been completed and the governor was to review and approve it this week.

Lolo says the territory needs to keep the 50 mile closure area for the people of American Samoa, to create jobs and business from fisheries....

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, May 30, 2015) – People of Bita’ama in North Malaita Malaita have promised to cease killing of dolphins for food consumption and plans to convert their traditional hunting of dolphins to become a tourism attraction.

This was revealed during a high level delegation visit led by Culture and Tourism Minister Bartholomew Parapolo to Bita’ama village on Tuesday.

During the visit, the delegation was given an opportunity to visit few tourism operators in Bita’ama, the historical sites and the proposed development site where three tribes in Bita’ama have allocated...

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, May 30, 2015) – Prime Minister Henry Puna has reaffirmed his commitment for the proposed Marae Moana marine park. This week he told the leaders at the 71st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand about the ambitious plan.

During a side event themed ‘Blue Economy’, Puna told the leaders they could not underestimate the significance of the ocean to their very survival into the future, and the role it played in island economies and their sustainable development.

This is why the Cook Islands had declared and was currently working on the establishment and legal designation of all of its 2.2 million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone as the Marae Moana – the Cook Islands Marine Park, he said. Marae Moana was Cook Islands’ way of ensuring a ‘blue’ economy, he said....

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.